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AFC Toronto's Esther Okoronkwo (centre) celebrates with teammate Kaylee Hunter after scoring against the Vancouver Rise during the second half of an NSL soccer match, in Burnaby, B.C., on Friday, April 24, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rich Lam
By The Canadian Press

Hunter’s brace paces Toronto in 4-2 win over Ottawa in first leg of NSL semifinal

Oct 31, 2026 | 2:39 PM

TORONTO — Kaylee Hunter scored two goals in leading AFC Toronto to a 4-2 victory over Ottawa Rapid FC in the first leg of their Northern Super League semifinal matchup on Saturday.

April Lantaigne and Lena Silano also scored for Toronto, which takes a two-goal aggregate lead into next Saturday’s second leg of the semifinal in Ottawa. Toronto looks to make a return to the final after falling in last year’s inaugural title game to Vancouver.

“It’s an amazing feeling, but I think all of it came from the team,” Hunter said after the game. ” … We need to build off this momentum that we built and go into next week at 0-0. Same momentum and just bring another good game.”

Lantaigne opened the scoring for Toronto in the 12th minute when she slid a shot in off a cross from inside the box from Hunter. It was Lantaigne’s first professional goal.

In the 26th minute, Hunter beat two defenders to the ball from goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo’s kick downfield and fired it in from outside the box. The assist was a first in the NSL for D’Angelo, who also had three saves.

Silano made it a 3-0 game in just the 55th minute when she scored on a rebound from a Hunter shot.

Choo Hyo-joo finally got Ottawa on the board four minutes later off a nice feed from inside the box from Min-a Lee.

Hunter got her brace in the 67th when she had the favour returned with a slick feed from Silano. Keera Melenhorst cut the deficit one minute into stoppage time for Ottawa but it was too little too late.

“First half was outstanding, probably one of the best halves we played all year,” Toronto head coach Marko Milanovic said. “Second half was good as well. I thought we maybe could have finished a few more chances and the goal at the end was probably avoidable. But it’s something that we’re going to definitely look at this week and clean up for next week.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press